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Marlins being careful with Stanton going forward

Marlins being careful with Stanton going forward

WASHINGTON -- Play the field one day and be used as a designated hitter the next. That's been the pattern for Giancarlo Stanton in his rehab assignments with Class A Jupiter.

On Saturday, the Marlins' 22-year-old slugger was again being used as the DH, and he hit his second homer in three games. He's expected to be back in right field on Sunday.

By the end of the weekend, the hope is Stanton will be ready to join the Marlins on Tuesday at New York.

Stanton had surgery to remove two cartilage chips from his right knee on July 8. Saturday marked his third rehab assignment game with the Hammerheads.

"He's rehabbing in Jupiter, and we'll assess after the next few days," Marlins general manager Michael Hill said. "He still has two more days."

The Marlins complete their series in Washington on Sunday, and they are off on Monday before facing the Mets in the first of three games at Citi Field on Tuesday.

Stanton is 3-for-12 with two home runs in his first three rehab games.

When Stanton returns, manager Ozzie Guillen noted that the slugger will be monitored daily. So he may play two games and rest the next, or be off in day games after night games.

For that reason, Stanton isn't expected to immediately go back to hitting cleanup. The plan is to keep Jose Reyes and Carlos Lee batting third and fourth, respectively.

"One thing about Stanton, we have to be careful with him," Guillen said. "We have to give him a few days off. I don't want him batting fourth right away. I'll try to see where he will hit in the lineup, maybe behind Carlos and ahead of [Greg] Dobbs."